Posts in category "holly"

Tutti Rouge Review, Part Two: The Betty Bra

Image via Bravissimo

Image via Bravissimo

This bra was sent to me by Tutti Rouge. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After falling in love with the Lilliana Bra, I was thrilled when my new Betty set showed up on my doorstep last week. Tutti Rouge has released their first line bit by bit, which has only helped build anticipation among lingerie fans and bloggers. It’s a smart strategy and one that seems to have paid off in terms of social media chatter, so I was extra eager to see the second release from the much-hyped Tutti Rouge line.

Look and Feel:

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook

This set feels silky and incredibly well made, especially given that the price point is $49.99. The floral fabric is beautiful and fabulously girly without making me feel like I’m 12 all over again. This feels like a much more expensive bra than it is, which makes Tutti Rouge a great addition to the full bust budget line world. If you’re a frequent Cleo or Parfait by Affinitas customer, these bras are of similar quality. I ended up loving the pastel colors much more than I anticipated and I’m really excited to see the jewel tone version come out for Autumn/Winter.

Fit and Support:

This bra is built very differently than the Lilliana, which means that if that bra worked for you this one may not and vice versa. In my case, I have a clear preference for the Lilliana. Having said that, I believe that the Betty will be great for loads of women who aren’t me. The Lilliana is built for women whose breasts are narrower set and who have more solid breast tissue. Women with soft breast tissue may have the same issue with it as they do in other plunge bras – it’s easy to puddle out into the middle of a plunge bra. The Betty Bra is perfect for people with wider breasts and softer tissue. The build of the Betty Bra is much wider and the half cup design means that softer tissue will fall into the cups beautifully. If you have denser tissue or more natural forward projection, you may find your breasts fighting the bra and winning like I did.

While the Lilliana band ran tight, the Betty band is fairly standard. I’d advise most people to go up a band size in the Lilliana and stick with their regular band size in the Betty. The cups in the Lilliana ran small, while the cups in the Betty are also fairly standard. If this had been the right shape for me, I would have fit into it in my regular Panache size of 34HH, while I’d be tempted to try a 34J (and ideally a JJ if they made one) in the Lilliana.

The Verdict:

I think this bra is going to be a godsend for lots of women, since there’s a sad lack of half cup bras out there. If you’re bored with balconettes and plunges, this bra is going to rock your world. It’s supportive enough to be worn as an everyday set but also pretty enough to be worn on a special occasion, which makes it extra budget friendly. The half cup shape produces a supported version of that “cakes on a plate” look that isn’t too extreme for every day wear. Even though it didn’t work for me, I think the Betty is a great option for those of you with the right shape and breast tissue type. In the meantime, I’ll go back and wait to buy up the Lilliana in all of the different color combinations.

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Taking the Custom Lingerie Plunge: My Review of Nearer the Moon

Image via Nearer the Moon

All items reviewed were purchased by me. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love having matching lingerie sets, but I also love buying from interesting indie designers. Since most indie designers don’t make bras in my size, these two desires can often come into conflict. I felt this way when I first saw the Hyper Floral Collection by Nearer the Moon – I knew I had to have a full set and none of the bras would come close to fitting me. Luckily Nearer the Moon also offers a custom lingerie service, so I decided to take the plunge and try out my first piece of custom lingerie. While I’ve had indie designers alter some patterns before for me, I’d never gone through the custom design process to create something truly unique. I was a little intimidated at the start: What if it didn’t work out? Would it be hard to fit my body type remotely?

When I initially contacted Nearer the Moon, I was very clear about what I wanted. I wanted a piece that would fit me that also had the look and detailing of some of the gorgeous Hyper Floral bras. Tilly, who is the designer behind Nearer the Moon, immediately suggested either a robe or a shorter camisole design. I’m addicted to pretty robes, so predictably I picked that option. Tilly asked lots of questions about my body type, what parts of my body I liked defined and what sorts of details I liked on my lingerie. After a few quick email exchanges, she sent over some sketches of the robe.

Image via the Nearer the Moon Facebook

Once I approved the sketch, all I had to do was pay through the Nearer the Moon Etsy shop and wait! I also went ahead and bought the Hyper Floral Spanking Shorts to make a complete set with the intention of pairing them with my white Satine bra to make a three piece set.

Image via Bravissimo

Image via the Nearer the Moon Facebook

It took about three weeks for my lingerie to be made and shipped to the US, which is incredibly reasonable considering the work and time it can take to ship from the UK. When it got here, I was blown away by how perfect everything was. The robe highlighted my bust and hips and not my stomach like I had asked and the eyelash lace on the spanking shorts was comfortable and gorgeous. It’s really the kind of lingerie that deserves to be seen as part of a boudoir photoshoot or something, but I haven’t gotten around to trying one of those yet. Instead, I’m having lots of fun lounging around the house and feeling totally glamorous in my matching stuff. I got the Spanking Shorts before I saw The Great Gatsby and now that I’ve seen the movie I’m even happier I got them – they’re right on trend for this season and I’ll treasure them for ages.

I completely recommend Nearer the Moon for all of your lingerie needs, including the stuff that’s just in your head! It can easy to feel like you’re missing out as a full busted woman, but between custom lingerie and all of the full bust bra options out there it’s easy to cobble together some gorgeous sets. I will definitely be buying more from Nearer the Moon in the future and doing something similar to create a whole new set.

Have you ever had custom lingerie made for you? Would you try it in the future?

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Plus Size Lingerie And Swimwear for Your Inner Ballerina: Meet Lulu West

Image via Lulu West

Items for this review were provided by Lulu West. All opinions are my own.

My personal lingerie tastes tend to tilt towards the vintage or classically pretty side of things, so I was intrigued when Lulu West offered to send some samples. It’s not often that I find myself reviewing a brand that is previously totally unknown to me, but the extra feminine look and feel of Lulu West’s offerings had instant appeal. I loved both their vintage inspired pieces and their girly ballerina inspired swimwear, and consequently will be reviewing one piece from each category today. I was sent both the Jessica V-Neck Slip and the Sweet Bandeau Halter Top and Bikini for this review.

Let’s start with one of my common lingerie shopping difficulties: I’m one of the many women who is stuck in the lingerie and clothing size gap. As a size 12/14 woman, I’m frequently included in both regular size lines and plus size lines. This means I should have more choices, right? Ha, no. I frequently find myself fitting into the cut of “standard” size lines without being flattered by them or being flattered by the cut of plus size lines while swimming in their smallest size. Tons of women have similar issues, which is one of the reasons that I’m extra excited about Lulu West. If you’re right in that size gap, this brand may be cut perfectly for you.

Image via Lulu West

The Jessica V-Neck Slip:

This girly pink silk slip immediately stood out to me, but I fell in love with it even more in person. It’s hard to capture the gorgeous details with a camera – it’s honestly one of those pieces that is better in person than in a photo. The body of the slip is made out of pale pink silk and falls in a tremendously flattering way. The lace at the neck and shoulders is intricately detailed with art deco style motifs, but also provides lots of stretch for comfort. I had originally thought that I would use this as sleepwear, but the v-neck and the short length work perfectly under several sheer dresses that I have. I tried a size 14/16 and it draped flatteringly over me rather than drowning me, which is rare for a plus size brand. I suspect that I’ll get lots of wear out of this slip and would buy more colors in a heartbeat if Lulu West made them.

The Sweet Bandeau Halter Top and Bikini:

I was extremely nervous about the whole wireless swimsuit idea, as I tend to stick to bra size swimwear with serious underwires. I loved the cut of this suit though, and it was surprisingly good in terms of lift and shape! While I definitely wouldn’t go and play in the waves while wearing it, I’d definitely take it on vacation to ensure that I looked cute while hanging out in the pool and/or hot tub. I love the giant bows on the suit as well as the cut of the bottoms. I carry most of my weight in my stomach, so this helps cover it nicely while still feeling like I’m wearing a two piece swimsuit. This swimsuit feels thoughtfully designed – it’s clear that Lulu West has thought lots about what plus size women really want in a swimsuit as well as how to balance that with a delicate look that isn’t found often in plus size brands.

The Verdict:

Lulu West is a great brand for plus size women as well as those who fall into the gap between standard sizes and plus sizes. Their pieces are flattering, well made and priced well in relation to their quality. I’m thrilled to have discovered them and will definitely be back to purchase more from them!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Cotton Candy Indulgence: The Lilliana Set by Tutti Rouge!

This lingerie set was provided by Tutti Rouge. All opinions are my own. 

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook page

Several months ago, the internet bra blogger grapevine started buzzing about a new brand that was going to change everything. Tutti Rouge had it all: adorable commercials featuring cute lingerie and models baking treats, reasonable prices, as well as 28 bands and a DD to HH cup range. There wasn’t a ton of information out there when the brand was first announced, so figuring out the details became sort of a mass blogger obsession. People took screenshots of the commercials and deconstructed which bra was which and hovered around the Facebook page waiting for more information to appear. Some people even wondered whether the idea of the brand could live up to all of the hype that it had generated.

Image via Bravissimo

Part of the buzz has been generated by the gradual launch of Tutti Rouge’s first collection. The Lilliana Bra, Shorts and Thong have recently been released through Bravissimo and Esty Lingerie but the rest of the pieces will be released gradually throughout the rest of the summer. It’s a cautious approach from a new company  as well as a novel one.

I was lucky enough to get a sample from the first round of Lilliana sets and I suppose I can go ahead and start with my conclusion: despite some finicky fit issues, this brand is all that the hype has said it would be and more. I’m in love and I suspect lots of other people will be as well. It’s a worthy competitor to Cleo and in my opinion blows Curvy Kate out of the water. The fabrics,  the colors and the detail work is just perfect.

I asked for the Lilliana Bra in my standard Panache size of 34HH and a size L  in the Lilliana Short. When the sample package came, I was shocked by how pink everything was. Tutti Rouge is cleared aimed at a younger audience, but this was the brightest bubblegum pink I had ever seen.  I completely fell in love with the color as soon as I put it on. This color looks great on lots of people and really pops on my pale skin tone. The bra is sort of a half cup plunge, but has a lots of support built in so you feel secure. I’ve noticed that Tutti Rouge seems to favor half cup bras, which gives me high hopes that the rest of the line will be just as great in terms of looks and support.

The details on this bra are amazing: From the tiny polka dot ribbons to the heart shaped strap extenders, everything just works. The polka ribbon detail is carried through to the shorts, which have nice coverage but are sheer enough to feel extremely sexy. I’m usually the first to complain about the overused woven ribbon detail on the top of bra cups, but this element breaks up the pink nicely and works with the sheer section on the top of the bra. The materials used are firm enough to be supportive but also breathable and fun. I love the slightly sheer section at the top of the cups.

As others have reported, this bra does run small in both the band and the cups. This is the only bra in the line that comes in a J cup, so if you’re usually an HH I’d suggest sizing up. I’d also suggest sizing up in the band if you’re on the firmer end of a band size. For my next Tutti Rouge set I intend to try a 36HH, which I think might be perfect. As you can tell from the pictures, even a slightly too small size looks amazing in terms of shape and lift! I’ve worn this a lot with very few issues beyond some readjusting throughout the day, so the set still gets an A+ from me.

Image via the Tutti Rouge Facebook page

I’m scheduled to get a sample of the Betty set when it is released, so there will definitely be a second part to this review along with a size comparison. In the meantime, pick up the Lilliana while you can! Other bloggers have said this as well, but I think it bears repeating – this set thrills me as a 27 year old, but a brand like this would have changed my life when I was a 17 year old. I love the idea that younger generations full busted women won’t spend their time crying as they are stuffed into ill-fitting minimizer bras like I did. I think these sets are great for adult women, but would also be a great choice for someone’s daughter or niece as well. Tutti Rouge doesn’t have a website yet, but you can stay up to date on their gradual release through their Facebook page. I can’t wait to see what they come out with next!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Lingerie Review: The Deco Camisole by Honey Cooler Handmade

I purchased this lingerie myself. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I’ve made a rule to buy only quality lingerie pieces this year, so I’ve spent lots of time looking at custom items over the past few months. I’ve been a social media fan of Honey Cooler Handmade for awhile, but when I realized that I somehow didn’t own any decent camisoles I decided to take the custom order plunge! Part of what appealed to me about Stephanie’s Deco Camisoles was the level of customization that seemed to be possible – after all, if you’re going to pay for a custom piece you want it to be something that speaks to you.

When I emailed Stephanie, we initially talked about a musical note based lace design. I don’t talk about my non-lingerie life much, but in my spare time I’m a fairly serious amateur musician. I own almost as much sheet music as I do lingerie, as well as a 1939 Baldwin piano that is the best thing I’ve ever bought. I’ve also always loved artwork that incorporates music notation, especially early manuscripts from the early days of musical notation. Music wasn’t written down until around 900 and when it was it only showed pitch. All of the surviving examples are religious in nature because churches were the only ones who could afford the paper!

Image via Brebru.com

I sent Stephanie some examples of this type of music as well as a list of colors I liked.  I also sent my measurements. At this point, she sent me several sketches and I picked the one that really spoke to me. She also went out and grabbed several different fabric swatches for me in a variety of colors and patterns. Several days later I got a cute envelope in the mail that contained the swatches with the price for the completed camisole next to each swatch. I love the way she does this, as it makes it really easy to see the price ranges and make a real judgement about which fabric is right for you instead of having to guess. Once I picked one, I put down a $50 deposit to start the process. She also sent me an email asking if I had any final requests in terms of fit, which was lovely since it reminded me to ask her if she could make sure the armholes wouldn’t show my bra!

Image via the Honey Cooler Handmade Instagram

Stephanie put up photos of each step of the process on her social media, which was fun to see. Before my camisole was complete she even emailed to double check the armhole measurement (her guess was spot on, by the way)! By this time I was extra excited to see my camisole show up in the mail to see how it worked.

Image via the Honey Cooler Handmade Facebook

Stephanie put up a really amazing photo once the camisole was done which I was grateful for, because as you can see my photos tend to be a little less uh…professional.

All of the Deco Camisoles are bias cut, which basically means they look good on everyone. They drape beautifully! I’ve been layering a white camisole under mine for the contrast with the sheer lace, but you wouldn’t have to do that. I also love how the silk appears to be different colors under different light levels.

I tried to make sure that the camisole was long enough to wear with leggings or skinny jeans, but not so long that it would look weird under a jacket. And behold, my new semi-coordinating jacket from Target:

I haven’t tried it with a skirt yet, but I suspect that would work well too. It has finally gotten hot here, so it will be great to have a silk sleeveless camisole for the summer. I’m eager to find lots of different ways to wear this, as it’s really flattering and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it.

I’ll definitely be back for another camisole at some point from Honey Cooler Handmade! Stephanie’s work is top notch and she made the custom process extremely easy and fun. If you’re looking to pick up something truly unique and special, these camisoles should be at the top of your list.

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone: A Review of the Mosh Playsuit by Dottie’s Delights

Over the past few months, I’ve been doing research for a piece on burlesque lingerie for full busted women. I first encountered the Mosh Playsuit as part of that research, but set it aside as it didn’t seem to meet my usual lingerie requirements. It is completely sheer, has no underwire and I assumed it wouldn’t work for me at all. However, I found myself coming back to it again and again, at which point I decided to contact Dottie’s Delights to explore whether it would work for my figure or not. I’d met Stephanie, the owner of Dottie’s Delights, at a lingerie tradeshow awhile back and really like her. She was sweet, thoughtful and incredibly approachable – just the kind of person I like dealing with when I’m asking difficult lingerie questions. To my surprise, she emailed back and said that not only would it work for my figure, but that I would fit into the standard XL.

Image via Dottie’s Delights

The Mosh Playsuit is a collaboration between Dottie’s Delights and the burlesque performer Mosh, who can be seen in the promotional photos. Apparently this photo set was so popular that Mosh and Stephanie got together and decided to produce the bodysuit in it for sale. It’s been a great seller for them and they’re planning on releasing a chevron version in August.

All of this is to say that up until I actually put it on, I wasn’t sure that this playsuit would work for me. I’m short, busty and carry more of my weight in my stomach than I’d like – not exactly the typical burlesque model type! Once I put the playsuit on I couldn’t believe that I’d gone this long without one – I felt the most confident that I’ve ever felt in a piece of lingerie!

As you can see from the photo, this bodysuit is completely sheer. It’s made of an incredibly high quality mesh that hugs your body while still being soft and comfortable. I’ve picked up several black mesh lingerie pieces from various designers and this is the highest quality mesh that I’ve found. It hugs you enough to make you feel secure, which is nice given how sheer the whole piece is!

What truly amazed me was that this piece not only had enough room for my boobs but that it actually gave them some support. This isn’t going to replace your every day underwire bra, but it definitely makes you feel secure enough for the bedroom or for lazing around and feeling glamourous. I also suspect this would make it great for a boudoir shoot. The playsuit has a nice sweetheart neckline and a low back, which makes it an extra flattering cut. The promotional photos show it as a strapless piece but it also comes with a halter tie that adds extra support and helps everything sit properly. The sides of the playsuit have cute little black buttons and the legholes have adorable ruffles.

This playsuit is one of those pieces that I suspect will look good on everyone. Instead of feeling exposed in it, I feel confident and like I’ve put an extra flattering layer over my regular self. If you’re interested in burlesque style lingerie but aren’t sure if it’s the right style for you, this is a great piece to start with. I’d also recommend it to those of you looking for something out of your comfort zone – you might be surprised how well it works for you!

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Panache Sculptresse Is Here, So What’s the Verdict?

Image via Figleaves

Sculptresse, the newest addition to the Panache family, has been the hot topic on Twitter and Facebook for several months now. Designed to compete with brands like Elomi, the Sculptresse line will provide new offerings to women in the D-J and 36-46 band category of the market. The offerings in this segment of the market are pretty slim, so I was excited to see another company coming out with new ideas. As much as I love the Elomi designs and fit, one can never have too much pretty lingerie. I’m also someone who loves Panache and wears a lot of their bras, but has struggled with their shape and wire design in the past. All of this made me extra eager to see what these new offerings would be like.

A quick note about sizing before we get started: I’m a 34HH in the Panache Tango and I had to sister size up to get into this collection. I ended up in a 36G in Sculptresse with the bras on the second hook. I received the Willow Full Cup Bra and the Bellise Balconette Bra in the Floral Print. These are the two most colorful/fun options in the collection, which tends to be where my tastes lie. If these bras look bright and crazy to you, be aware that the rest of the collection is more subdued. There are some great basic pastels and nudes, along with lots of useful t-shirt bras.

The Willow Full Cup Bra: 

Image via Figleaves

I picked the Willow bra based purely on color – I’ve never turned down a raspberry bra in my life! In person this bra has an even deeper and richer color, which I absolutely adore. The Superbra line definitely a focus on colorful basics, so it’s nice to see the Sculptresse line carrying on that tradition. This is a full cup bra, so it’s great for higher cut clothing and creating a smooth line under things. When I first saw the catalogue I thought it would have black lace over the top part of the cups, but in reality it’s a lace design that is printed onto the smooth fabric. I feel like this aspect of the Willow is really going to divide people. I’m a lace lover, so I wish there was an actual lace component. However, I know so many women who want prettier bras that are smooth all over. I suspect they’ll go bananas over this feature.

The Bellise Bra: 

Image via Figleaves

This is a floral pattern that is going to look good on just about everyone. I love the lacy edges and the pops of orange and red throughout the pattern! The Bellise Bra is a balconette bra, but the coverage wasn’t all that different from the full cup bra on me. These are definitely for women who prefer a more covered up look, which means they aren’t going to work under deep V-neck shirts or dresses.

The Fit:

Panache has redone lots of their bras with lower wires recently and I was glad to see that the Sculptresse bras seem to be using the shorter versions. I used to have incredible pain when I wore the Tango or any of it’s variants, but due to the wire changes I own three. Neither of these bras poked or pinched me in the slightest, so they’re definitely worth trying for those of you that struggled with the older styles.

One thing I did struggle with in both of these bras was having extra space at the bottom of the cups. I’ve had this problem with different versions of the Tango as well, so I think this is an instance where this bra isn’t meant for my shape or breasts. I have reasonably dense breast tissue and I’m full on top, so I think if you had softer breast tissue or were more full on the bottom than these bras would be great.

The Verdict:

I think that the Sculptresse line is a great starting point for Panache and will appeal to lots of women who aren’t addicted to plunge or half cup bras. I’d love to see Panache put out some plunge bras as part of this line in the future as well as some bras that were slightly more ornate to make it work for a wider range of tastes. However, as an introductory basic line I think these bras are definitely worth exploring! I’m excited to keep an eye on the brand and will definitely be back to review the expanded offerings next season.

What do you think of the new Sculptresse offerings? Will you be picking any of them up?

Holly

Holly

The Full Figured Chest provides creative and elegant copywriting for the high end lingerie industry.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

Older entries →

Our Sponsors

Support Independent Designers!